Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
West Side pride and the rich heritage of Mexican culture will be on full display during this year’s Cinco de Mayo fiesta on the West Side, held 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, May 4, on Cesar Chavez Street between Robert and Ada. This is the second year the West Side Boosters, a nonprofit youth sports organization, has organized the regionally renowned and community favorite event that dates to 1985. Formerly, it was organized by the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, which cancelled the event in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and chose not to revive it. Some 4,000-5,000 people are expected to join in on the fun.
The colorful, lively parade is making a comeback this year, and Sunny Sauceda is traveling from San Antonio, Tex., to headline on the main stage. New this year is a dog show. A commemorative button designed by Bob Nash can be purchased by contacting the planning committee at info@westsidecincodemayo.com. A button is not required for admission to the fiesta. Proceeds support the West Side Boosters youth sports league.
The following events were accurate as of press time but are subject to change. For updates, visit westsidecincodemayo.com.
Parade
The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Wabasha and Cesar Chavez and travels down Cesar Chavez to Ada. About 70 groups will participate, including local schools, organizations and businesses. Artist Jesse Ramirez was named grand marshal and will be marching behind the AM Vets Post #5, Korean War Vets and Latino Peace Officers. He is an avid volunteer for West Side organizations and has created several murals in the neighborhood. The parade hasn’t been held since 2019.
“When we started organizing this two years ago the parade was a big thing people asked about,” said committee chair Santino Franco. “It’s something special the community has been asking for and we’re going to be able to provide it.” It’s being coordinated by Tiffany Rivera-Prescott, who oversaw the parade when it was organized by the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation.
Entertainment
Four stages will be set up on the fiesta grounds. The Tex Mex Experience Mainstage at State and George will feature Saul y sus Tremendos, noon-12:45 p.m.; Dos Coronas, 1-1:45 p.m.; Prestigio del Norte, 2-2:45 p.m.; Los Rebeldes, 3-3:45 p.m.; and Sunny Sauceda y Todo Eso, 4-5 p.m. The R&B Stage at Robert and Cesar Chavez features Ray Covington, noon-12:45 p.m.; Jordan Johnston, 1-2 p.m.; Fresh and Fonky, 2:15-3:15 p.m. and 4-5 p.m.; and DJ Saint, 3:30-4 p.m. The West Side Stage near Cesar Chavez and Ada will feature Cuautli, 12:30-12:45 p.m.; Sheila Carbajol, 1-1:45 p.m.; Goro, 2-2:45 p.m.; Zen Rosalia, 3-3:30 p.m.; Lena Sol, 3:30-4 p.m.; and Ty Prophecy, 4-5 p.m. The Cultural Performances Stage at Parque Castillo features a jalepeno contest, 12:30-1 p.m.; Riverview School mariachi, 1-1:30 p.m.; Los Alegres Bailadores children show, 1:30-2 p.m.; elote eating contest, 2-2:30 p.m.; grito contest, 2:30-3 p.m.; and Los Alegres Bailadores pre-professional and professional group, 3-3:45 p.m. A Family Zone will be set up in Parque Castillo featuring two bounce houses, activities with staff from the Science Museum, Ordway Theatre and St. Paul Fire Department, face painting, caricatures and more. An artisan market with 80 vendors and 25 food vendors will also be onsite.
Car show
Dozens of fine-tuned and freshly polished lowriders, hot rods, motorcycles and other custom cars will line the festival streets all day. The car show returns to 179 E. Robie St., with more categories to win trophies, including best muscle car, truck and SUV. Last year’s show had about 50 vehicles and this year’s is expected to have more due to the expanded categories. Sign up starts at 9 a.m. and winners are announced at 2:30 p.m. Cost to register is $10 in advance or $20 on event day. There is no hydraulic bounce competition this year. For more information, call Brad at 651-248-9811.
Softball tournament
An adult softball tournament will take place at Gilbert de la O Field behind the Wellstone Center throughout the day. Those interested in competing must register their team by April 26. Preliminary games are held on Friday, May 3 and teams will compete for the winner’s trophy on Saturday. The tournament has been organized by the Boosters since 1988. Cost to register is $175 per team.
The cornhole tournament is not returning this year.
Dog show
The inaugural “Fun Dog Show” will be held 1-5 p.m., in the El Burrito parking lot near the intersection of Robie and State streets. Watch different types of bulldogs proudly strut their stuff for trophies in 25 different classes and the chance to win a $500 prize. Admission is free. Cost to register a bulldog is $25 and can be done in advance or at the event. For more information, call Santo at 651-404-9740.
Security
St. Paul Police will provide onsite security during the event.
“Our number one priority is to have a great Cinco de Mayo where everybody is safe and enjoying themselves,” said Franco. “To grow the event in the future, it starts with safety in 2024.”
Three shootings at the event over two years – in 2017 and 2018 – took some of the shine out of the fiesta, which in recent years regularly drew more than 60,000 people from the community and region.
Franco said the Boosters plan to organize the event for the foreseeable future and would like to see it return to a similar scale as it once was. The nonprofit was able to undertake this hefty event because of a $1.4 million grant they received from the state’s Explore Minnesota tourism department in summer 2023 to fund cultural events. In addition to making sure Cinco keeps thriving, they will use some of the funds for their annual Football Fiesta in September in conjunction with Mexican Independence Day.
“We have some grand ideas and being able to have this grant money helps with whatever we want to do,” said Franco. “Maybe we’d love to see it [Cinco de Mayo fiesta] be a two-day event. We plan on growing it and eventually having some great musical acts and being a draw for other communities to come see…. The [West Side Cinco de Mayo] team is special. It’s pretty much all West Siders and everybody is committed to bringing Cinco de Mayo to the West Side for the West Side.”
The celebration, always held the weekend around May 5, once attracted more than 100,000 attendees over a full weekend of events and had been called one of the top 10 largest Cinco de Mayo fiestas in the nation. It was first organized by the former Concord Street Business Association (later renamed the Riverview Economic Development Association) and grew from a small community festival to a regional attraction. However, it became too much for the small nonprofit to manage and in 2009 the event was transferred to the St. Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation, which also organizes the St. Paul Winter Carnival. The foundation eventually reduced the festival to one day then stopped organizing it after cancelling for two years because of the pandemic. In 2022, a small Cinco de Mayo event was organized on the West Side by Reis Romero, a former volunteer with the traditional Cinco de Mayo West Side St. Paul.
Cinco de Mayo (May 5) commemorates the unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla, in Mexico’s state of Puebla, of a struggling Mexican army over Napoleon III’s massive French army in 1862. This was the first time the French Army had been defeated in decades. Although the French regrouped and overtook Mexico City, the Puebla
battle is remembered for the euphoria it created, as well as the hope and patriotism, not just in Mexico but among Mexicans living in California at the time. The Union Army was keeping a close eye on the Mexican wars during this time for fear that the French would assist the Confederacy during the Civil War.
The West Side Booster Club was established in 1970 and provides athletic opportunities for youth of all abilities and financial statuses. To volunteer at the fiesta, call Ana at 612-219-5203. For more information, visit westsidecincodemayo.com.
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